Selective silencing of cell communication influences anteroposterior pattern formation in C. elegans.
In C. elegans males, laterally located V cells generate a simple pattern of anterior alae (cuticular ridges) and posterior rays (mating sensilla). We have found that this pattern is generated, at least in part, by the selective interruption of cell-cell interactions. In anterior V cells, lineages leading to the production of alae are induced by cell interactions. These cell interactions are inhibited in specific posterior V cells by the activity of the gene pal-1, which allows these cells to generate rays instead of alae. The activities of cell signals and pal-1 appear to influence V cell fates by determining the state of a developmental switch that involves two homeotic genes, lin-22 and mab-5.
Waring
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DA
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
Kenyon
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C
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation